Civility was central in Senate District 10 race

Property taxes, affordable housing and basic civility were on the minds of potential voters and candidates in the Wyoming Senate District 10 race.

Both Republican Gary Crum and Democrat Mike Selmer were contacted prior to election day to reflect on their recent campaigns.

Both candidates said that their experience in talking to potential voters was that the cost of housing in Albany County needs to be addressed.

“Let’s look and see if we tax property appropriately, especially residential property, due to a large increase over the last couple of years,” Crum said.

As he was knocking on doors in the district, Selmer found that issues with housing and other basic needs had an impact on now just who someone voted for, but whether they voted at all.

“I spent quite a bit of time walking in lower income areas, and when I was walking in those areas they were concerned about the cost of food, cost of housing, availability of quality housing. People who were struggling to make ends meet, that’s what’s on their minds, and they don’t really engage in the political process as much,” Selmer said.

“The cost of housing in Albany County needs to be addressed. Just with physical appearance we have a ways to go to have everyone have a standard of living that reflects our country’s values,” he said.

For Crum, who announced his entry into the race with a call for civility in politics, the issue of property taxes was important, but was the second concern he heard when talking with constituents.

“Number one was returning civility to the legislature, you know, common sense, practical civility,” Crum said.

His campaign did not send out negative mailers against his opponent. In some local races, political action committees (PACs) offered mailers to candidates.

“We were contacted by outside PACs that wanted to send mailers on our behalf but we said, ‘absolutely not, that’s not who we were,’” he said.

He noted that misinformation distributed in the general election said that he was part of the Republican Party’s Freedom Caucus, which he said is not true.

Crum also faced damage to his signs, with some letters in his name being removed.

“It would have been one thing if they had put a red X through them, but what they did, the way they changed letters to make the language vulgar, was totally unacceptable. And it cost thousands of dollars to replace those signs,” Crum said. “I don’t believe the people in Wyoming expect that or like that.”

The vandalism was reported to the Laramie Police Department.

Selmer said he had some signs stolen, but nothing that was out of the ordinary in an election. He noticed a lack of misinformation about him or his campaign.

“I don’t think that our fears of what the campaigns could potentially degrade into came about in Albany County,” he said.

Both candidates said they were encouraged by the number of people that were willing to talk to them.

“I want to thank all the people of Albany County that answered their doors and when we knocked participated in a manner that I truly appreciate it,” Crum said. He said that if he wins, he will reach out to state legislators to develop personal relationships.

That’s how good solutions are made, he said.

Selmer said that if the votes fall in his direction, he will work for programs that help working families, including scholarships for early childhood education, preschool and day care. He will also put an emphasis on fully funding public education.

He carried voter registration forms as he campaigned and was encouraged by the number of people who were willing to register to vote.